Folding machine



Feb. 24. 19.25.l

C. G. BRCS'TRM ET AL.

FOLDING MACHINE original Filed may 12, 1917 ,4,2 sheets-511.99% 1 immun wat j" '(3. G. BRQQYRGM ET AL.

FOLDING MACHINE l original Filed may 1?, 1917 2 Sheng-sheet aff comprising a single treadle, for controlling the powerA clutch and also for elevating and depressing the upper feed point, to render the same vary'ingly effective or ineffective, at will. By actuating the treadle, therefore: first, the clutch may be thrown in, to start the lnachine; and then, by a further movement of the treadle, the feed point may be depressed and the effective fed movement started.

A further object is to provide for swinging the work table back over the frame and the operating mechanism of the machine. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the table is pivoted to the frame at a point. relatively remote and far back from the working point of the horn; this permitting the table to be moved out of the way, as required for handling cylindrical vamps, without taking the table off the machine.

One importantv object of the present invention has to do with improved means for performing the snipping operation in a manner so that the depth of the cuts may be gradually varied as the folding progresses, making it possible to start with a very small .or shallow snip or cut at the beginning of a concave edge portion, and thence gradually increase the deptlrof the snips to the re'- qufsed maximum depth. In this Way it is l insured that the fold will be smooth and even, without a break or hump in the stock that is aptto occur at the point where the snipping begins when the s pping is started at maximum depth accor ing to present usual practice.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description, and the distinctive features of novelty7 will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a central, longitudinal, vertical section of a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail, illustrating the immediate working parts in side elevation; Fig. 3 is a detail front view of the. machine; Fig. 4 is a partial view of the front of the machine, with certain parts removed, and others in section upon the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, to illustrate the im mediate working elements; Fig. 5 is a sectional detail on line 5 5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of' the arrows; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective, showing a vamp and the immediate working parts in operative relation thereto; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail. in section upon the line 77 of Fig. 2. lookingr in the direction of the arrows, also showing the immediate working parts in operative relation to a vamp: Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken upon the line CS-S of Fig. 1, lookinginthe direction of the arrows, showing the working parts in detail,

acting on a vamp; and Fig. 9 is a detail similar to Fig. 8, showing the operative parts occupying another position.

The framey or housing of the machine com prises a body portion 10, extending up info a curved overhanging portion 11, with a forwardly extcndingnose 12. 'l`he nose 12 is spaced from the body of the frame above an extension 13, the extension 13 constituting what is known as the horn of the machine. The frame is equipped with abearing 14 to receive the rear portion of a drive shaft 15, in substantially the plane of the feed elements, referred to below. The forward' end of this shaft is journaled in a separate bearing bracket or sleeve 16, which may be rigidly secured to thel frame by a cross pin or rod 17. For adjustably centering the bearing sleeve 16, transverse screws 115 are fitted from opposite sides, through web portions of the machine housing, to engage the sleeve at oplposite points.

A and-and-balance wheel 18 is keyed or otherwise suitably secured upon the outer end of the sliaft'l, and is provided with a clutch face 19. The clutch face 19 is adapted to be frictionally engaged by a co-operative clutch face on the inner side of a driving pulley 20 that is fitted on a sleeve 21. The clutch face of the pulley 20 is normally held away from the clutch face 19 by a coil spring 22 that is housed in a recess bctweenv the wheel 18 and the pulley 20. The sleeve 21, which is slidably fitted loosely on the shaft 15, has a head 9. The pulley 2() is maintained in engagement with the head 9 by the spring 22. A head 23 is fitted in the outer end of the sleeve 21 and is engageable by a Wear button 24, that is constituted of fibre or the like, and that is carried at the upper, outer end of a lever arm 25. The lever arm 25 is pivoted to the frame at 2G and is rigidly provlided `With a long, horizontally extendingarm 27. The arm 27 reaches most of the way toward the front of the housin where its extremity is slotted to receive t erein, with a capability of endwise sliding, a` pivot block 28. The pivot block 28 is carried at one end of a short, lever, link bar 29, the otherend of which is pivoted at 30 to thev end of one arm 31 of a bell-crank lever. The bell-crank lever is fulcrumed at and its other arm 32 has an adjustable stop pin '33 fitted in its extremity adapted to engage the frame as an abutment to limit the swmgingmovement of the said lever in one direction. The swinging of the 'said lever in the other direction is yieldingly limited by an adjustable headed bolt 34 threaded into the frame and having a'coil spring 35 interposed between its head and a seat in the lever arm 32. The lever bar 29 is pivotallv connected at an intermediate point 36 to 'a depending bracket 3T, the pivot connection being, as shown, nearer to the pivot block 28 tha-n to the pivot 30, for a reason that will later appear. The bracket 36 has a. shoulder 38 formed thereon underneath the pivot 36 and is equipped with a depending pin 39 slidably fitted through a bearing strut 40 of i the frame. A compression coil spring 41 is interposed between this strut and the shoulder38. Upon release of the treadle, the coil spring 41 will return the level' arms 27 and 31 to their illustrated, ineffective positions, permitting the springI 22 to disconnect the clutch vfaces and also elevating the :feed point, as will later appear. The bracket 37 1s provided with an oil'set portion having a pivot connection 42 to a depending rod 43. The rod 43 is adapted vtobe connected to a treadle (not shown), and typities any suitable control, preferably manual, for the power clutch and also for the upper feed point.

For applying a brake to the machine by the sameoperating device that controls the v arm 56 is thus adapted to swin power clutch, a short, brake lever arm 104 is mounted on the pivot 26. The arm 104 is provided with a brake shoe 105 that is adapted to eng-age the 'periphery of the wheel 18. The arm 104 has a downward extension 106 below its pivot 26, `where it is engaged by a screw 107 that is adjustably carried in a ug; 108, rigid with and depending from the arm 25. Thus, upon an upward movement ofthe arm 27, to disengage the driving-clutch ele ments, the pin 107, by engaging the extension 106, applies the brake at a time predetermined by the adjustment of the screw 107.

The lower end of a vertically disposed link bar 46 ,is pivoted to the lever arm 31 at 44, relatively close to thefulcrum 45. The upper end of the link bar 46 is pivoted at 47 to the inner end of a traine plate 48. The

. frame plate 48 is pivoted to swing in a verv tical plane about a pivot pin 49 Ithat is transversely fixed in the frame of the machine,

and is provided with a vertically disposed pivot, post 50. The base of a bracket mounting 51 is pivoted to swing' or rock horizon tally about the post 50 as an axis, on a bearing surface provided at the top of the plate 48@ A lower feed block 53 is clamped, as shown at 52, to the forward end ot the bracket mounting 51, and is provided with a plow 116 for turning; u the margin of the stock, as Will be more fully explained later. The lbracket mounting 51 has spaced-apart,

rearward, Wing extensions or ears 54, bearing a transverse pivot pin 55 that constitutes a pivot or axis for a lever arm 56. The lever vertically on an intermediately disposed pivot pin 55 that is transversely secured between the extensions or ears 54, and also, with the mounting 51, to swing ori. rock, horizontally about 'l ,-theivertical pivot pin 50. A. leaf spring, in tlieliorm of a resilient plate 5S, is clamped tothe lever arm 56, at i :initier end, and rel! `thel said spring plate.

member comprises a downwardly and in-v wardly turned extremity, .terminatingl in a downwardly projecting feed point 60, opposite the lower feed block 53. By means of this construction, the use of separate, springy controlled cams is rendered unnecessary, so

that the feed elements may 'be positively connected to their operating instrumentalities. The inner end of the lever arm 56 is formed with a socket 61, in which is fitted a ball head, mounted on a crank pin 62. which iscarried at the end of the drive shaft 15.

As the shaft 15 is rotated, the lower feed block 53 is oscillated by the crank pin 62 in a horizontal plane about the axis 50. The upper feed member 59 also partakes of this horizontal oscillation and is at* the same time endowed with a vertical oscillation about the horizontal airis 55. lt is in consequence of the horaiontal oscillations that the feed' members are caused 'to produce the feed movement, and the vertical oscillation causes the feed point to grip and release the work alternately. AThe path that the feed point 60 follows iscurved, generally oval, in nature. The feed point presses the material against the lower block 53 whenever the treadle rod 43 is depressed. Depression of the treadle rod edects a downward movement of the link bar 46and a corresponding swinging movement of the plate 48 about the pivot pin 49. This movement of the plate 48 results in a relative movement towards each other of the feed block and the feed point, both of which it supports. The more that the treadle rod .is depressed, thc closer will the feed point and the feed hloclobe caused to approach each other; with the resultas the leed` point is carried by the spring plate 58, and yields upward by spring action, that the oval path oit the feed point will become more and more flattened. The flatter the oval path of the feed point, the sooner will the material be engaged between the feed point and the feed block on each feeding movement, and the longer will each such engagement take place. The arm 56, carrying the feed point, of course, moves through the same range, with the Afeed block, during every intermittent feed movement; but the feed point is causedto engage `the material earlier and earlier, before the completion of its downward movement, the farther and Y desired.

fix

lhe mounting 5l is equipped with an adjustable stop screw Gil. adapted to determine the final limit of downward movement of the feed point (30. and the frame is equipped with spaced stops (Si, (35 for Jo-operation with the bellcrank lever arms ill and 82. .i`he stops Geland limit the described operative movement. of the treadle in opposite directions, thereby determining the filial limits of feeding movement of the upper and lower feeding elements.

For performing the snipping operation in concave margins of the stock, a movable knife (3G is provided lfor tro-operation with a fixed knife block G7 mounted on the horn portion of the frame. The knives are held against movement in tlie'line of feed. The knife GG is clamped for limited vertical adjustn'ient by means of an elongated slot and clamp screw, as indicated at G8. at the end of the outer arm of a lever (i9. The lever (39 is pivoted at and is provided with an inwardly extending. bent arm the extremity of which is pivotally connected at 71 to one end of a pitman rod 7 2. The other end of the pitman rod 7:3 is connected to a crank pin 73 that is carried by a spiral gear 74 journaled oma'pivot 75 carried by the frame. rl`he spiral gear 7l is in driven engagement with a co-operative spiral gear 7G that is fixed on the drive shaft 15. It will be noted that the spiral gear76 is only one-half the diameter of the spiral 74, the purpose of this being to obtain a reduction in the driven ratio from the shaft 15 to the snipping knife, since, on account of the relatively short feed strokes of the present machine, as described, it is not necessary that a snippiug cut be made at every feed stroke but, in practice, it is found that such a snip cut at every other feed stroke is amply sufficient. The pivotal point .7() is adjustable, to vary the depth of the snip cuts produced by the knife. For this .pui-pose, the pivot pin is carried at the end of a swinging arm 77 fulcrumed to a pivot pin of the frame at 78. also engaged with the pivot pin 70 is a link bar 79. the other end of which is pivoted at 8() to the short arm of a bell crank lever 81 which' is pivoted to the frame at 82 and has its longer horizontally extending arm pivotally connected at 83 to a downwardly extending treadle rod 84 which may have associated therewith a suitable treadle, or like nunmal operating device (not shown). It will be noted that the mounting arm 77 extends from its pivot generally transverse of the direction of the knife-carrying lever 69 and thus a swinging adjustment of said arm, as effected by the treadle of the rod 84, will shift the knife 6G transversely with reference to the,line of feed of the stock as produced by the feed point GO and feed block 53, thus causing the knife 66 to snip in to a greater or less depth according to the swinging adjustment of said arm mountings 77. The arm 77 has formed therewith opposite transversely extending lugs 85, 86, the former engageable by an adjustable set screw 87 fitted into the frame housing and the latter engageable with a stop screw 88 adapted to be set in fixed adjustment. riChe adjustable stop screw 87 is at the forward side of the arm 77 and thus its adjustment will determine the extent to which the knife (S6 may be set outward, i. e., to determine the maximum depth of the snip cut, while the setting of the stop 88 will detdrmine the possible inward movement of the knife upon retraction thereof. For normally holding the knife (36 at its outer limit of movement a suit-able coil spring is provided to reactagainst a lug of the frame housing, and press upward against a collar adjustably fixed on the treadle rod 841, as is illustrated in the drawings of the aforesaid application Serial No. 168,161.

For completing the foldingover of the margin ofj"tlie vamp, after it is turned up by the plowen the lower feed block, 21s more fully explained later, and for hammering or pressing down the same, a hammer 92 is provided which, as shown more particularly in Fig 8, is pivoted to the same pivot pin 49 that serves as a pivot for the mounting- 18. The hammer 9:2 is held from movement in the line of feed and is normally inclined, extending obliquely upward and outward. Its lower end is pivotally connected to a collar 93 that is slidably carried on an operate ing rod 94. The collar 93 is held for limited movement between a stop collar on the rod 94 and a stop head 96 carried at the end of the said rod. and is normally held yieldingly against the collar 95 by a coil spring`97 that is interposed between the collar 93 and the head 96. The inner end of the rod 91-is pivotally connected at 98 to the lower end of a short lever 99. The lever 99 is fulcrumed to the frame at 100 and its upper end is provided with a contact piece 101 that is engageable with a cam face 102 fixed on the shaft 15. A coil spring 103 is anchored to the pivot 10() and engages the upper portion of the lever 99,

thus pressing' the said upper end "of the said lever constantly against the cam 102. The hammer 92 is therefore oscillated in timed relation to the feed movements. The hammer blows are rendered yielding or resilient to the required extent by reason of the interposed spring 97, while the upward movement of the hammer is rendered positive bv engagement of the fixed collar 95 with the slide collar 93.

In machines of this kind, it is desirable to be able to move the table out of the way when operating upon certain kinds of work` such as so-called cylindrical Vamps. Herctofore, it has been customary to remove llU memos sembling. According to the present inven- V- tion, vthe table is plvoted to ,the meiehine` frame or housing at a point relatively far uch,` end remote from the horn, so that it l maybe swung up and backward over the horn 1Q and housing, und out'of the way of the operator., without taking the same off from the machine. The table isindicated at 109, and eis shown fitted around the platform 110 at the `tront of the horn, this platform being l5 a' relatively small plate lblock ediustebly clamped to the top of the horn, and the table 109 being recessed. as seen et 111, to fit down over the same. The liable has projections 112 at each side ot' the machine housinfr ein l tending to a point well rearward thereof,

where their extremities are fnlcrumed as y seen at 113, to transverse pivots carried by the housing. The forward portion' of the table is yediustebly supported by prop` posts 114 that are vertically threaded into the is carried the plow `or folder 116, present frame housing at euch side thereof, the adjustment of these prop posts permitting the table to be adjustably set so that its top surface will beapproximately flush with the .30 surface of the platform 110.

Referring now more particularly to the immediate working parts, as hitherto explained. the ystock is gripped for feeding between the lowerjed block end the upper feed point 60. (ln the'lower feed block 53 ing n curving' face of changing outline, as

` shown more particularly in Fig. (i, adapted to catch the horizontally extending edge of 4 0 the vamp V and turn the same'up to un approximately vertical position.

engage the material at a point such 'that the line joining this pointto the plow 116 is 5 substantially at right angles tothe line of .mer 92 is formed Twith a horizontal extrem! ity for engaging, that portion 4of the Work that is; located just beyond the feed, memm bers,l along the lineof feed. The operating,r

mechanism is timed so that the hammer shell move down to grip the turned-over margin of the stock. as seen in Fig'. 9, during the time that the feed members are moving backward, preliminary to getting e. new grip xH "f, f

for the shipping knife.

The feed point and the feed block 53 nre adapted to on the stock. in the seid Fig. 9, the feed members are illustrated in the positions that they occupy just prior to their return movement. During this return movement, theplow 116, which moves with the feed block 53, performs the described operation ofY turning up the margin of the vamp.. The upper feed point is, as shown, provided with n forwardly projecting linger 11?" that is adapted to entend over and engage and guide the margin'of the stock, just in ed rance of the plow, so as to hold it ngoinst the plow and keep it from buclrlingjnp prematurely, prior to the action thereon of the plow. The snipping knife 66 is arranged Just in advance ofthe plow 116, along' the line of feed, as shown in Figs. 6, 7 und 8 and, es before explained, the operating de- Vice of this knife is preferably timed to cause it to operette once et everyother feed movement; though it will he understood.

that this is merely illustrative, und that any desired rei-tio het'ween the feed movements andthe shipping operat'ons muy beobtained by selective changes in t e spirnigenr drive Since the hammer 92 is mounted to extend obliquely upward and forward, its action on the edge of the stock will be in the seme oblique direction, thus insuring the proper turning down m the margin of the vamp that hns already been turned upward by? the plow 116.

In use, the operator, intreducingl the vamp V into the machine, places the margin thereof on the lower feed block 53. .dit this time, when themochine is idle, the feed block is relatively depressed under the ection of the spring 411, und the upper feed point 60 is correspondingly lifted, so that ample room is afforded for inserting thework. Upon de ression of the treedle rod 43, the lever lin 29, tiret swinging on `the point 30 as efulcrum, since the pivot 36 is nearer to the point 28, operates the lever 25, to throw in the clutch elements 19, 20, starting the machine. The feed members thereupon begin their cycle of movements, but still seperated and' ineffective. "When the operator wishes to begin Worlr, he now further depressies the treudle rod e3. This causes the link 29 to swing on the point 28 as a fulcrum, since this point con move no further, and the linlr 29 swings downward the lever 31, thus eil'ecting' e, turning movement of the mounting Il@ about the pivot L1-9 to elevate the feed block 53 into .its effective plane.` At the same-time, 'the pivot 55er the arm 56 is moved downward, causing this arm to swingl downward about the bearing 61 es a. fulcrum. The feed member 59 is thus actuated, 'with n multiplied. movement into effective position. lf the operator de sires a. relatively slow feed, he depresses the treadle rod 43 to e .relatively lesser ex tent, which ceases the feed point to of the feed member 59 to engage the material through a small portion only of its lower range of movement. The feed point is in this manner caused to describe a relatively wide or broad oval path, so that the material is only moved forward a little at each step. If, however, a morerapid feed is desired, the treadle rod is depressed further, causing the arm 56 to become tilted further, and this will result in the spring-plate mounting 58 of the upper feed point becoming placed under spring tension. The feed point 60' will therefore engage the material sooner, and remain in engagement with it longer to effect a longer range of feed. At this time, the spring plate 58 yields resiliently to permit the arm 56 to continue operating in an oval path, though the feed point 60 is con strained to move, during this feed movement, in astraight path,-with the result that the feed point describes approximately a more or less flattened oval. The feed may thus be varied, at will, by depressing the treadle rod 43 to a greater or less extent, as desired by the operator. Vlien it is desired to move the table 109 out of the way, it has only to be swung on the pivots 113 over past the vertical plane of its pivot point, as indicated in dotted lines at 109, in which position it may be left, out of the way of the operator, until such time as it is desired to use the table again.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms as to its various details, and

. certain of the features of novelty described may be advantageously used apart from others of the present combination, and it is therefore desired that the present einbodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative, `and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing description, to indicate the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A folding machine having, in gonibination, means for'pressing a fold in a heetof material, and means for feeding th` material to the fold-pressing means con'ilprising a. movable support, two feed elements supported by the support, and means whereby movement of the support simultaneously effects movement of each feed element to-y wards the other feed element.

2. A folding machine havin r, in combination, means for pressing a fol in a sheet' of material, means for feeding the material to the fold-pressing means comprising two feed elements, and means for simultaneously moving each element towards and` from the other element to render the feeding means variably effective. f

o 3. folding machine having, in combina- Y 'terial to the fold-pressing Imea-ns conipristion, means for pressing a fold in a sheet of material, a movable base, a feed pointv andA a feed block carried by the base foi` feeding'the material to the fold-pressing means, and manually controlledpmeans for controlling the movable base.

4. A folding machine having, in combination, means for pressing a fold in a sheet o f material, a movable rocking base, a feed point and a feed block carried by the base for intermittently feeding the material to the fold-pressing means, means for rocking the base to render the feeding means intermittently effective, and manually controlled means for controlling the position of the movable base.

' 5. A folding machine having, in combination, means for pressing a fold in a sheet of material. a feed point and a feed block for advancing the material to the fold-pressing means mounted and connected for relative yielding movement with respect to each other. whereby the feed point describes an orbital movement with respect to the feed block, and means for moving the feed block towards the feed point to shift the range of such orbital movemenaavhereby the feed pointis caused to engage the material for a variable interval on each feed stroke.

6. A folding machine having, in combination, means for pressing a fold in a sheet of material, a rocking base. means for feed ing-the material to tlie fold-pressing means coi prising a feed block carried by the base and a feed point pivoted to the base, the fold-pressing means being held from movement in the line of feed, and a driving shaft having a crank pin for rocking the base and relatively moving the feed block and the feed; point..

7i A folding machine having, in coinbination, means for pressing a fold in a sheet of material, a movable support, two feed elements supported b v the support for feeding the material to the fold-pressing means, movement of the support beingadapted to effect a relative movement of the feed elements, a horizontally disposed shaft having a crank pin for effecting the movement of the support, and means for rot ting the shaft.

8. A folding machine having. in,combina tion. means for pimssing a fold in a sheet of material, and means for feeding the niatcrial to the fold-pressing means comprising a substantially horizontally rocking support, a feed block secured to the support, a feed point pivoted to the support. and a driving shaft substantially in the plane' of feedingniovement having a crank "pin1for rocking-the support and actuating thefecd point relatively to the feed block.

9. A folding machine having. in combination, means for pressing a fold in a sheet of material, and means forfeeding the mw ing a substantially horizontally disposed feed member, a resiliently operable feed loo . reni larrit-iol by the feed member, and

a su fit-tinstially horizontally di osed arm conntbdgfdr vibration to whici the feed member ldjjsecured at a point relatively remote-hn {tjontally from the feed point.

lOQA #didine machine havin", in combination` ymenus for -pressing a fold in a sheet of materiai, means for intermittently feeding the material to the foldressingmeans comprisinga vibratorv feed lock and a cooperating vibrator feed point pivoted to theA feed. block, Van a drivingshaft having an eccentric positively connected to one of the feed elements, whereby the feeding f means is adapted to be vibratcd at relatively high s eed. v

1l. i folding machine having, in combination, a hammer, and means for feedin material to the hammer comprising a lea spring disposed' substantially in the plane of feed and a feed point carried by the leaf spring.

l2. A." folding machine having, in commember, a `substantially horizontally 'disposed arm connected for vibration to. which the feed member is secured at a point relatively remote 'from the feed4 point, and a horizontally disposed driving shaft hayinv a crank. pin positioned near the rear'end o? the feed member for actuating the same. 4 14. A. folding machine having, lin combination, means for pressing a fold in a' sheet of material, and means for feeding thcl' material to the fold-pressing means mountedl a nd connected for vibration yand comprising a lower feed block and an upper-feed point,

vboth pivoted to swing horizontally, andl the upper feed point also pivotcd to swing'ver# tieallyr about a pivot fixed with respect to the feed block, and means for shifting the pivot to canse the feed point to swing from vits operating point as a fnlcrum formoving the feed point into and out of operative position.

l5. A folding machine having, in' combination, means for pressing a fold in a sheet of material, and means for feeding the material to the fold-pressing meanscomprising a feed point mounted to swing about an axis in one plane for feed movement, and

about an axis in a plane transverse|` thereoffor movement into and out of engagement with the material, means I feed oint by engagement with one extremity o the mounting thereofto yibrate the 'same on an intermediate pivot, and means for manually raising and lowering the pivot to swing the feed point into and out of operative position from its operating point as a fnlcrnm; h c

16. A folding machine having, in com bination, means for pressing a fold in a y sheet ot' material, and means for feeding the for operating the v ried by the leaf spring, and an arm mounted and connected for vibrntlon about axes in C two; planes 'at an angle to each other, the

spring being fixed to the arm at a point relatively ,remote from the feed loint, whereby the feed oint receives a yie ding orbital movement t erefrom.

1S. A folding machine having, in com- Y bination, means for pressin a 'fold in a sheet of material, and means 01 feeding the material to the fold-pressing mea-ns comprising a lower feed block and an upper. feed point mounted and connected for swinging vibration, the vfeed point being separately mounted for yielding swinging vibration and adjustment. .toward and from the feed block, .and means for adjusting the feed point toward and from the feed block with the machine in operation.

19. A folding machine having, in oombination, means for pressing a fold in a' sheet of material, and means for feeding the materlal tothe fold-pressing means comprising a lower "feed block and anupper feed,`

point both mounted for horizontal vibrating movement, the' upper feedy point being mounted. also for yielding vertical swinging vibrations, means for imparting the said movements to the said feeding means, 'and means for vmoving the upper feed point toward and from the lower feed block during the operation of the machine, whereby the extentof the operative feed strokes may be varied.

20. A folding' machine having, in combination, means for pressing a' fold in a sheet' of material, means for feeding the material to the fold-pressing means comprising a feed point that is normally ineffective when the 'machine is in operation, driving Leonesa means for the fold-pressing and the feeding means, and treadle-controlled means for first rendering the driving means effective and then rendering the feed point variably effective.

2l. A folding machine'having, in combination, means for pressing a fold in a sheet of material, and means for feeding the material to the fold-pressing means connected for vibration'and comprising a feed point movable into and out of effective position Without disturbing its operative movements, driving means for the feeding means comprising a disconnecting clutch, and connections for controlling the clutch and also for controlling the position of the .feed point having a single manual operating device.

22. A folding machine having, in combination, means for pressing a fold in a sheet of material, and means for feeding the material to the fold-pressing means connected for vibration and comprising a feed point movable into and out of effective position without disturbing its operative movements, driving means for the feeding means comprising a disconecting clutch, and con' nections for controlling the clutch and also for shifting the feed point into and out of effective position, the said connections extending to a single operating device With an interposed pivotal linkage, whereby the manual operating device first actuates the clutch and by a further movement brings the feed point into effective position.

23. A folding machine comprising lfeeding mechanism mounted and connected for vibration to feed sheet material intermittently forward by gripping its margin, folding means associated therewith, and a snipping device associated with said feeding mechanism and having operative connections for vibrating it in timed relation to the vibration of said feeding mechanism and in a definitely reduced ratio with respect thereto. i

24. A folding machine having, in combination, a frame comprising a; body portion. a forwardly extending vportion and a portion overhanging 'the forwardly extending portion. folding and feeding means infaintcd upon the forwardly extendingportion. a 'snipping knife mounted upon the over-hanging portion. a driving shaft mount-A ed in the body portion having a forwardly extending crank pin for operating the foldin.;` and feeding means, and means 'housed by the overhanging portion connecting the nipping knife to the driving shaft so as to he operated thereby.

A folding machine comprising mechanism for feeding and .for folding down the edge of sheet material. and a knife for promatr-rial :is it is folded, at will, said knife 'being pivotally mounted upon a shiftahlc fulcrum and connected for manual control and adjustment during the folding operation so that the depth of the snip cuts may be varied at Will Without interfering with the operation of folding.

26. A folding machine comprising mechanism for feeding and for folding down the edge of sheet material, a snpping device connected for timed operation with respect to the feed of the matedial, said shipping device having a mounting movable to shift said device out of operative position, or into operative position, to variable degrees, to vary the de th of the snip cuts at Will, and means for adJustably/limiting the movement of the mounting in each direction of its movement.

27. A folding machine comprising mechanism for feeding and for folding down the edge of sheet'material, and a snipping knife associated herewith carried on a lever connected for imed operation with reference to the feed of the material, said lever having a shiftable fulcrum with a manual cbntrol device therefor permitting said knife to be shifted variably at Will into operative position, to change the depth of the snip cuts progressively With the machine in operation.

28. A. folding machine comprising mechanismfor feeding and for folding down the edge of sheet material, and a snipping knife associated therewith 'carried at the end of a lever connected for timed movement with reference to the feed of the material, said lever having a shiftable fulcrum permitting the operative range of said knife to be varied with an adjustable stop member to determine the maximum depth of snip cuts, and having also 'a treadle control device for shiftingl'said fulcrum and thus varying the depth of said snip cuts, whereby the snipping may be initiated with relatively' shallow cuts, progressing to a gradually increasing depth at will.

29. A folding machine comprising mechanism for feeding and for folding donn the edge ofsheet material, and a snipping knife for producing variable spaced snipping in the edge of the material as it is folded. at Will, said knift being normally positioned `so to produce snips of maximum depth,

and n'ianual-controlled means for actuating theknife during the folding operation so that the depth ofthe snip cuts may he varied at Will Without interfering with the operation of folding.

30. A machine of the class described having. in combination, means for feeding and folding material., a swinging arm, a lever pivoted to the arm, whereby the point of pivotal connection of the lever to `the arm constitutes an adjustable fulcrllm for the lever, a knife. mounted upon the lever for shipping the n'iaterial. means for pivot'allv actuatinff the lever about the adjustable ul- Til Crum, and means for swingingtlle arm to adjust the position of the adjustable ful Crum.A

3l. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a frame, operative mechanism at one end of the frame, and a table encircling said mechanism pivoted to the frame at a point relatively removed from said end, whereby said table may be swung np over said end, out of the way of the operative mechanism.

82. A machine of the class described having,'in combination, a frame provided with a` platform at the forward end, feeding and folding means mounted near the platform, a table fitted around the platform pivoted to the frame4 at a point relatively removed from said end, whereby said table may be swung up over said end, out of the Way of the platform, and means for adjustably supporting the forward end of the table.

33. A folding machine. having, in combination, a frame, feeding mechanism at one end of the frame, a table encircling said mechanism pivoted to the frame at a point relatively 'remote from said end, whereby said table may be swung np over said end andout of the way of the feeding mechanism, and folding means associated with the feeding mechanism.

34. A folding machine comprising a Inachine frame or housing feeding mechanism mounted and connected for Vibration at a forward portion thereof, a forward projection of said frame extending around said feeding mechanism, a table encircling and adapted to fit over said forward projection,

and horizontally pivoted to the frame at a point relatively remote from the front thereof, whereb \v said table may be swung up over the front of the machine and out of the way of said feeding mechanism` and folding means associated with said feeding mechanism.

'35. A. folding machine having, in combination, means for pressing a fold in a' sheet of material, means for feeding the material to the fold-pressing means step by step between limits of feeding movement, and means for causing both limits of movement to advance, each towards and away from the other, to var the length of the feed strokes.

36. A fol ing machine having,'in com* bination, means for pressing a fold in material, and mean for feeding the material to the ressing 4means comprising a transverse y movable leaf spring and a feed point carried by the leaf spring.

37. A folding machine havino', in conibination, means for folding material, means for pressing the folded material, and means for feeding the material to the fold-pressing means comprising a substantially horizontally disposed arm having a feed point atits outer end constructed and arranged to engage the material with yielding pressm'c, means for operating the arm back and forth in the line of feed, and a positive connection between the arm and the operating means.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names.

CHARLES G. BROSTROM. ANDREW R. RIDDERSTROM.- 

